Chris Andersen and the Heat are playing at an unbeatable level right now, having reeled off 27 consecutive wins. / Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO - Now the hard part of the schedule arrives for the Miami Heat in their quest to tie and break the longest winning streak in NBA history.

After beating the four worst teams in the Eastern Conference and extending their winning streak to 27 games with Monday's 108-94 victory against the Orlando Magic, the Heat (56-14) will play four of their next seven games against playoff teams, starting Wednesday at the Chicago Bulls.

All-Star LeBron James stuck to the script as the Heat are six victories from tying the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' 33-game winning streak.

"We didn't have a goal in mind to say, 'Let's go on a long consecutive-win streak,' " James said. "But our goal is to win every game that we are on the floor. It doesn't happen like that every night, and we know that. But that is how we approach the game."

After beating the Magic, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "We'll move on to the next game of our business trip. ... Each game isn't going to be perfect, and you have to figure games out."

Based on record and the standings, the 38-31 Bulls â?? likely without guard Derrick Rose, who hasn't played this season as he recovers from a torn knee ligament â?? present Miami's biggest challenge since March 10 when the Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers.

In Miami's last eight games, they have played two playoff teams: the Boston Celtics, seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and the Milwaukee Bucks, eighth in the East.

The Heat are 1-1 against the fifth-place Bulls this season, losing at home 96-89 Jan. 4 and winning in Chicago 86-67 Feb. 21.

"We know that Chicago is going to be tough game for us and playing in that building," James said. "We want to come out with our game plan. We have to rebound. We have to defend. We have to share the ball."

Heat guard Dwyane Wade is day to day with a sore right knee but wants to play against the Bulls after missing Miami's past two games.

After Chicago, the Heat play at the New Orleans Hornets on Friday. Don't dismiss the Hornets' chance to pull off an upset. New Orleans ended the Denver Nuggets' 15-game winning streak Monday and is on a three-game winning streak that also includes victories against the Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies.

"We haven't gone into a game and said, 'This is an easy one,' James said. "We say if we can execute offensively and defensively, we gives ourselves a chance."

Heat victories against the Bulls and Hornets would set up one of the most intriguing and biggest regular-season games of the season, as the Heat visit the San Antonio Spurs. Miami could be going for 30 wins a row in a game that carries home-court implications if the two teams were to reach the Finals. The Western Conference-leading Spurs are 53-17, three games behind Miami for home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

"We are not taking any team for granted," James said. "Wins are hard to come by and teams like this are really rare. ... It has been tough all year. It hasn't been easy for us at all. Every team has given us their best."

Miami's next three games are on the road, and it has won 13 road games during the streak. Since Jan. 1, the Heat have the best road record in the league (17-5, .773), and Spoelstra said the Heat began playing better when they began winning consistently on the road.

Chicago, coincidentally, is the only NBA team with a better road winning percentage (.559) than home winning percentage (.543).

The Heat catch a small scheduling break in their next seven games. The Heat have two days off between Tuesday's home game against the New York Knicks and road game against the Charlotte Bobcats on April 5 and two days off between a home against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 6 and home against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 9.

Miami also only has one back-to-back (Charlotte and Philadelphia). If they keep winning, the Heat can tie the Lakers' streak at the 76ers and break it against the Bucks.

"I can't sit here and say the NBA season is not a grind," said James, who after winning the championship last season began preparing for the London Summer Olympics which ended in mid-August. "Eighty-two games is long so you are going to have some times where you don't feel it. The best thing about it is when you walk into this locker room and see the guys who you are with, that makes the game that much easier to prepare for."

The streak, while incredibly difficult and impressive, remains secondary to Miami's goal.

"Our historic run is about winning championships," James said. "That is what we want to be known for."

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